Swimmer{3 s shoe

ABSTRACT

A swimming shoe adapted especially to aid in the performance of the breast stroke comprising: a sole, means for attaching the sole to the foot of the wearer and a scoop-shaped fin extending from the underside of the sole. The joint between the fin and the sole extends in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the sole, and the scoop portion of the fin opens towards the inward side of the wearer&#39;&#39;s foot.

United States Patent Mayor 1 June 27, 1972 [54] SWIMMERS SHOE [72] Inventor: Jean Mayor, Lausanne, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Materiaux S.A., Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland [22] Filed: March 10, 1970 2! Appl. No.: 18,053

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March l3, i969 Switzerland ..3829/69 [52] 0.8. CI ..9/309, 9/304 [5 1] Int. Cl. ..A63b 31/10 [58] Field of Search ..9/309, 304

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,521,312 7/1970 Gang "9/309 1,590,484 6/1926 Volker ..9/ 304 1,424,207 8/1922 Manning. ....9/ 309 1,983,609 12/1934 Hudson ..9/304 Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger AttorneyStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT A swimming shoe adapted especially to aid in the performance of the breast stroke comprising: a sole, means for attaching the sole to the foot of the wearer and a scoop-shaped fin extending from the underside of the sole. The joint between the fin and the sole extends in substantially the same direction as the iongitudinal axis of the sole, and the scoop portion of the fin opens towards the inward side of the wearer's foot.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures This invention relates to the provision of swimming shoes for aiding those swimming the breast stroke. While the flipper" type swim fin made in the shape of a web foot is will known, a fin of this type handicaps instead of helps the person who, for one reason or another, swims the breast stroke. In fact, the natural motion of the legs cannot be performed normally if the foot is extended by a fin of the above-mentioned type. But, observations show that there are advantages in giving the swimmer doing the breast stroke a shoe which facilitates floating with natural leg motions. These means are, for example, particularly useful during life saving operations or when swimmers must move in the water while carrying loads, or are otherwise restricted in their motions. Further, shoes which facilitate floating with natural leg motions are useful to swimmers during underwater diving expeditions.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a swimming shoe which not only allows the legs to be moved in a natural fashion while one swims the breast stroke but aids in the performance of this maneuver.

It isa further object of this invention to provide a swimming shoe which facilitates floating in the water using natural leg motions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of swimming shoes which accomplish the above objects, each of whichis of one-piece, flexible construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a swimming shoe which permits the swimmer to walk on dry land while wearing a pair.

A swimming shoe constructed according to the present invention has a sole portion which is adapted to be attached in any known manner to the foot and a scoop-like fin portion extending downwardly from the underside of the sole. The joint between the fin and thesole extends in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the latter, and the hollow of the scoop faces inwardly towards the instep portion of the sole.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the swimming shoe;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in increased scale taken I through the mid-section of the shoe shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 1

shows a scoop-shaped fin l attached to a shoe portion 2 which is adapted to fit the foot of the wearer. Preferably, the two components are molded in one piece from a flexible moldable material, such as, natural known or synthetic rubber, or various well known synthetic resins.

In order to more closely fit the shape and size of the foot, as well as to provide a more secure binding thereto, a rear extension 3 can be provided at the upper portion of the heel of the shoe.

The toe portion of shoe 2 preferably has an opening 5 therein to allow for better fir and flow-through of water during use.

As can been seen from FIG. 1, fin 1 has a double curved surface reminiscent of that of a paddle in a Pclton turbine, wherein two depressions or pouches are formed side by side in the concave face of the scoop.

Triangular extensions 7 and 8 divided by indentation 6 extend downwardly from he front and rear portions of the fin.

The curved junction line between the fin 1 and the sole 4 of the shoe starts at the extreme back of the heel at a point situated essentially midway between the inside and outside edges of the sole. It then extends obliquely in relation to the sole in order to reach the outer edge of the latter at a central portion and then returns towards the inner edge of the sole near the toe portion of the shoe having the opening 5.

The front edge of the fin falls from the front of the shoe along a peripheral curve directed downwardly towards the 70 front and inside of the foot while the back edge falls from the back of the heel along a peripheral curve aimed downwardly and further back while extending towards the inside of the foot. Therefore, at the point of its greatest length, the fin is longer than the shoe.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the thickness of the fin increases from the lower edge to the top.

Finally, it is noted with respect to FIG. 2 that the line along which the fin is cut by atransverse plane with respect to the shoe is a smooth line having a radius of curvature which is minimum in the area of the sole of the shoe and increases progressively towards the lower edge.

In operation, when a swimmer makes the normal leg motions of the breast stroke, and the feet are brought together at the end of the motion, a thrust is created through the displacement of water behind. Thanks to the curved shape of the fin I and the indention 6, thrust is considerably increased when the swimmer is wearing the shoe as herein described. Furthermore, while wearing the instant shoes, a swimmer, though heavily laden, can remain afloat without fatigue even while carrying a load or while handicapped in his motions, for example, by his clothes.

Due to its special shape, the fin 1 can be folded down under pressure towards the sole of the shoe which enables the swimmer to walk on the ground while wearing a pair. Since the shoe is made of one piece of flexible material such as, rubber, the fin does not tend to lose its shape or break and resumes its original shape when free.

The configuration shown in the drawings is not the only one conceivable for the fin of a swimming shoe according to the invention. In fact, instead of a double curved surface one could make a fin with a single curved surface, for example, in a cylindrical form or even, if suitable, in a flat surface extending at right angles with the sole. l-Iowever, tests have shown that the type having the double curve represented in the drawings gives better results.

The fin can fold under the sole of the shoe when the swimmer walks on the ground. In order to facilitate this folding ability, a means of connecting the fin in a folded position under the sole can be devised. For example, a tie normally attached to the top of the shoe and wrapped around the ankle, but which can be wrapped under the fin and attached at the level of the ankle, could be constructed. Other means of tying could also be devised.

Finally, instead of being connected to the shoe along a line extending the length of the sole, the fin could also, in an alternate version, be connected to connecting rods or to the outer edge of the sole.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A swimming shoe comprising a sole, means for attaching said sole to the wearer's foot, and a fin of flexible material extending downwardly from the under face of the sole, said fin having a concave scoop-shaped surface with its concavity toward the inside of said sole, said fin being joined to said sole along a curved line extending from the middle of the heel portion to the inside edge of the toe of said sole, with the central portion of said joint coinciding with the outer edge of the central portion of said sole, the lower edge of said fin having an indentation of triangular shape in its central portion and forming on both sides of said indentation a pair of obliquely and upwardly extending edge portions.

2. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the shape of said fin in a transverse cross section taken through the midpoint thereof is defined by a smooth curve, the center of curvature of which lies at a height between said lower edge and said joint, the minimum radius of curvature of said curve being situated closer to the under side of the sole than to the lower edge of said fin.

3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sole to the wearer's foot is a shoe-shaped member integrally connected to said sole.

4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein an upwardly rising extension is provided at the heel portion of said shoe-shaped member and an opening is provided in the toe is said shoe-shaped member.

5. The shoe of claim 1 in which said fin is adapted to be folded against the underside of said sole in order to allow for walking on dry land.

a t-as: 

1. A swimming shoe comprising a sole, means for attaching said sole to the wearer''s foot, and a fin of flexible material extending downwardly from the under face of the sole, said fin having a concave scoop-shaped surface with its concavity toward the inside of said sole, said fin being joined to said sole along a curved line extending from the middle of the heel portion to the inside edge of the toe of said sole, with the central portion of said joint coinciding with the outer edge of thE central portion of said sole, the lower edge of said fin having an indentation of triangular shape in its central portion and forming on both sides of said indentation a pair of obliquely and upwardly extending edge portions.
 2. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the shape of said fin in a transverse cross section taken through the midpoint thereof is defined by a smooth curve, the center of curvature of which lies at a height between said lower edge and said joint, the minimum radius of curvature of said curve being situated closer to the under side of the sole than to the lower edge of said fin.
 2. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the shape of said fin in a transverse cross section taken through the midpoint thereof is defined by a smooth curve, the center of curvature of which lies at a height between said lower edge and said joint, the minimum radius of curvature of said curve being situated closer to the under side of the sole than to the lower edge of said fin.
 3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sole to the wearer''s foot is a shoe-shaped member integrally connected to said sole.
 3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sole to the wearer''s foot is a shoe-shaped member integrally connected to said sole.
 4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein an upwardly rising extension is provided at the heel portion of said shoe-shaped member and an opening is provided in the toe is said shoe-shaped member.
 5. The shoe of claim 1 in which said fin is adapted to be folded against the underside of said sole in order to allow for walking on dry land. 